Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-01-13
CONGRESSIONAL.
SENATE.

WASHINGTON, January l2.-Allison,
from the Committee on Appropriations.
reported back the Army Appropriation
bill with amendments. Ordered printed.
The Senate then resumed the consid-
Grafton of the Interstate Commerce
bill, and was addressed by Call, who de-
clared his concurrence in the great OBJ
jects Of public policy that were sough I
to be carried into effect by the original
bill and by the conference report. Call
referred to the fact stated in the work
of the pool that the capitalization of the
railroads of the country exceeds their
actual cost by three billion dollars The
rates charged for transportation were to
pay interests and dividends on this fcti.
tious and pretended capital. The peo-
pie were now paying an annual tax of
three hundred millions on this fictitious
capital. He could see nothing in that,
if it were to continue, but the ruin OF
the Republic. He would vote for the
pending bill because it would accomplish
no great harm, but he regarded it as no
remedy tor existing evils, and no tri-
umph for those who desire to see inter-
state commerce regulated.
Brown made an argument in opposi.
ton to the bill.
In the debate on the Interstate Com.
merce bill Mr.. Mitchell, of Oregon, said
he very seriously doubted whether the
short and long haul provisions would
cheaper local freights, while on the
other hand q vital blow would be struck
by it at transcontinental and through
commerce, and also at the foreign com.
merce of the country. As a rule, the
great bulk of profits realized by railroad
companies come not from through basi-
ness, but from local business, and it was
fair to assume that these companies
would always look primarily to their
own interests and not to the interests OF
the general public. All would
agree, therefore, that there would
be no hesitation on the part
of the transport tation companies in aban-
doning their through freight business
rather than give up their profits on local
business. For one he did not prefer that
result. He believed that in such event
there would be such secret combinations
between the powerful transcontinental
companies, including water lines, as
would increase through freights and thus
enable them to maintain their present
high charges on short hauls. He there
fore believed that the provision would
prove to be cheat, a deception and
fraud. Mr.. Mitchell laid great stress on
the fact that conditions and circum-
stances of through transcontinen-
tai business were entirely dis
similar to those of local business and
that therefore the fourth section would
not apply to it. He therefore declared
that the section was an absolutely harm.
less piece of legislation so far as the in.
terests of the railroad companies were
concerned, and was wholly and abso-
lutely impotent and Intellectual so far as
giving protection to the shippers was
concerned. 1t was worse than throwing
a tub to o whale. He would vote for
the recommittal of the bill with instruc-
tions to amend the second and fourth
sections by striking out the words, "un.
der substantially similar circumstances
and conditions.
Mr.. Cullom stated that there were
three or four Senators who desired to
speak on the bill and who had engage
ments for this evening. He would not
therefore ask for vote tonight.
Senator Williams has offered an
amendment to the Sundry Civil bill, in.
creasing the appropriation for the Signal
Service Bureau, SO that weather bulle-
tins to Los Angnles can be transmitted.
After an executive session the Senate
adjourned.
HOUSE.
The House passed without division the
Senate substitute fol. the Edmunds Anti.
Folygamy bill.